Mothers staged a mass “nurse-in” outside Claridge’s hotel in London on Saturday afternoon in protest against an incident in which a woman was asked to cover herself up while breastfeeding in its restaurant.

The demonstration, organised by Free to Feed, was in response to the Mayfair hotel’s treatment of Louise Burns, 35, who was told to cover her baby daughter’s head with a napkin while she was feeding her on Monday.

Claridge’s has said it “embraces” breastfeeding but requests that women are “discreet towards other guests”.

The incident sparked debate about whether it was acceptable to breastfeed in public, with the Ukip leader, Nigel Farage, suggesting that mothers could “sit in the corner” in restaurants to avoid offending people.

Emily Slough, 28, founded the group in March after she was labelled a “tramp” on Facebook for breastfeeding in public. She travelled from Staffordshire with her 18-month-old daughter, Matilda, to join the protest.

She said the hotel staff had acted unlawfully by telling Burns to be unnecessarily discreet. “We are here to show Claridge’s they are not above the law. But they have said nothing to us, they are pretending we’re not here,” Slough said. “Every time something like this happens, many women are put off for life from breastfeeding. We’re here to challenge that stigma and show women it’s normal and natural.”

Emma Bullock, 25, who had helped organise the demonstration, arrived with her 11-month-old daughter, Eleanor. She said: “Lou Burns was being discreet and then they put that huge tent over her to cover her up, which made it very obvious. We want Claridge’s to issue an apology and change their policy on breastfeeding, but they have done nothing yet.”

She added: “No-one has any problem with breasts when they’re displayed in a dress. Boobs are everywhere – people only object when they are used for their normal and natural purpose.”

One passer-by applauded. He said: “Breastfeeding is normal and natural. People are too offended these days.”

However, Lindsay Jardine, 35, said Claridge’s had been entitled to tell Burns to cover up. “If I was eating there I wouldn’t want to see someone feeding their baby in front of me.”

Burns was shocked and humiliated after being given a large starched napkin to avoid “causing offence” to other diners when she tried to feed her three-month-old daughter, Isadora.

Pressed on whether it would be right for a hotel to ask mothers to use the “ladies’ room” to feed, Farage said on Friday: “Or perhaps sit in the corner, or whatever it might be. That is up to Claridge’s.”